Red Lion's proposed final budget doesn't raise taxes

The district would use more fund balance to help make ends meet

The Red Lion Area School Board recently approved a proposed final budget for next year that doesn't include a tax increase.

The board unanimously approved the proposed final budget on May 15, according to a news release. The final budget adoption is set for June 4, said Terry Robinson, the district's business manager.

The $85 million budget represents an increase of about 3.1 percent in expenses over the previous year. Robinson said the district will use about $3 million in fund balance to help make ends meet.

The budget proposal doesn't call for a tax increase, so the millage rate would remain about 22.39.

Robinson said the district transferred some funds set aside for debt and is deferring some capital improvements to help. There are about 14 retirements, and all but one -- an administrative position -- will be replaced. But those retirements still help, because a person whose salary was $80,000 might end up being replaced by someone making less.

Robinson said the budgeting process hasn't gotten any easier, but "we're starting to reap the benefit of those years we did actually end up having revenue exceeding actual expenses. We're trying to use that rather than increase taxes."

Contact Angie Mason at 771-2048.

Advertisement

View the budget

The Red Lion Area School District's proposed final budget is available for inspection in the district's business office, according to a news release.

The budget is available between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Red Lion Area School District Education Center is at 696 Delta Road, Red Lion. The budget is also available at www.rlasd.net.